Definition of “fostering”

Providing a temporary home for a shelter or rescue animal, while they are on their path to permanent adoption, as a volunteer for a shelter or a rescue. Foster-to-adopt situations, also known as trial adoptions, are not addressed here. There is a difference between fostering homeless animals and pet-sitting family pets for family, friends and neighbors. Homeless animals usually don’t know their names nor the people helping them along the rescue road. They don’t know anything about where they are at first. And they are typically grateful for your role in saving their lives and getting them out of the shelter. They know.

Typical foster responsibilities may include:

Provide food and shelter

In-home living 24/7 usually required for cats and pocket pets; foster dogs might enjoy some outdoor time such as walks and backyard play time

If you must keep your dog outdoors, construct an excellent dog house and kennel based on considerations of your dog’s breed, age, health status, your climate and environment, and safety and health features. Schedule daily activities so that your dog doesn’t become depressed or frustrated, leading to difficult behaviors. Never chain your dog.

It is now a well-established fact that dogs are social, pack-oriented animals who thrive on human companionship and are happiest while living indoors as part of the family. When you bring a new dog into your family, the dog learns to view your family members and your other pets as his or her pack. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you prepared for the unexpected accident? What happens if you don’t make it home to your dogs and cats tonight? Take a few minutes to think about your pets’ first 24 hours without you. Keep “in case of emergency” or ICE instructions with you so that if the unthinkable should happen, your pets will get the care they need and deserve.

Will You Be Coming Home to Your Pets Tonight?

By Susi of dogknobit.com blog

Had he died, mine would have been the last face he ever saw. People don’t tend to die in bicycle accidents, however, when a car isn’t involved. They tend to break themselves into pieces. This man had broken his nose. Also his neck. Read the rest of this entry »

We found this article to be good stuff and we wanted to share it with readers. Thank you Caroline, a middle school student, for sharing this good information with your team! It eventually found it’s way to us via Coonhound Companions!

Traveling by Car or Truck with Pets

Taking the family pet along for the ride is a part of the vacation plans of families across the nation. These trips can be quite memorable and enjoyable—but only if you take the proper safety precautions for your animals. This guide will help you travel safely and comfortably with your favorite pet.

Before You Travel

When you and your family are traveling, planning is essential to make sure you get everything packed and are fully prepared for your journey. Such planning is also a must when it comes to traveling with pets:

Find a Place to Stay With Your Pet

Not every hotel, campground, or other lodging allows pets to stay on the premises, and the last thing you want is to pull into your lodging and find out that your animal is unwelcome. While planning your trip, you should make sure to find pet-friendly accommodations at every stop along the way on your journey. Figure out where you will stop and plan accordingly. Read the rest of this entry »

Readers, the linked article is very important if you and your pets spend time outdoors together. Veterinary parasite experts warn of a tick population explosion due to milder winters, resistance to topical anti-tick and -flea treatments, and other factors. Some believe infection may transmit to the host before 24 hours elapse. Dr. Karen Becker writes an excellent overview and her tips for prevention is a must-read. Reader comments are also interesting. I will repost her tips in digest form below.

It’s almost Easter, and signs of Spring will soon be here! For most of us, the Easter holiday brings back many fond memories of chocolate treats, Easter egg hunts, colorful Easter baskets filled with goodies, and bunnies. But if you are a pet owner, please be careful if you have these Easter staples in your house, or in your neighbor’s yard, which can pose danger to the health of your dog or cat.

“Contact Voltage is electrical current coming from damaged or faulty underground wiring that in turn, energizes nearby objects and surfaces, like sidewalks, street lamps, manhole covers fire hydrants and even puddles.
These surfaces can deliver dangerous or deadly shocks!**

If you feel even the SLIGHTEST shock from an energized surface, call 911, contact your utility company AND
alert your public officials.

Visit the Contact Voltage Information Center Website online to learn more and find out if your utility company is taking proactive measure to address this danger” http://www.contactvoltageinfo.org/

Listen and watch for dogs and cats accidentally trapped in sheds, garages, and even homes, when families leave for winter vacations. Mis-communications or mistakes can be devastating. Sunbear was trapped in a townhouse laundry room when his owner left town; he died.

Trapped and no one hears you!

It can happen in your neighborhood. You are a dog or a cat, and your family loves you. They left for vacation and arranged for your care. But communication about the date was faulty, or a voicemail was lost, or the caregiver was irresponsible. And you have not been fed or watered for days. Read the rest of this entry »

Taking the family pet along for the ride is a part of the vacation plans of families across the nation. These trips can be quite memorable and enjoyable—but only if you take the proper safety precautions for your animals. This guide will help you travel safely and comfortably with your favorite pet.

Before You Travel

When you and your family are traveling, planning is essential to make sure you get everything packed and are fully prepared for your journey. Such planning is also a must when it comes to traveling with pets: Read the rest of this entry »

In wintertime, dogs can get in trouble by running out on thin ice. Warm days can weaken ice on frozen ponds. Even in very cold weather, rapidly flowing water will not freeze completely, ice along tidal coasts will break up with tide changes, and uncovered holes in solidly frozen surfaces can prove to be traps for dogs. Once they’ve fallen through thin ice, dogs can have trouble climbing out again. Carry rope and a change of clothes in your vehicle for emergency rescues—you can tie one end of the rope to a tree or other solid anchor and the other to your waist when going to the rescue, affording you a way to climb back out of icy water.

My coonhound Clamour, 75 lbs., once ran over thin ice and ran onto a beaver lodge to bark at a raccoon on an evergreen branch overhanging it. I knew the ice was too thin to support me and I wasn’t sure the ice could support Clamour. I wasn’t even sure the beaver lodge would support him, and I knew it was occupied! I knew Clam wouldn’t even try to leave until the coon did, and I don’t carry firearms when I “hunt,” so I had to find another way to make the coon leave. Mind you, all this was in the dark of night, at least a mile from the nearest house. I lobbed snowballs at that coon for what seemed like hours before he retreated toward the tree trunk, Clam underneath him every inch of the way. Luckily, Clam didn’t fall through until the shallows, and was able to climb out on his own. He then proceeded to climb all over me and get me soaking wet. Now, I always keep along rope in my truck, and sometimes an ice grapple in thin ice weather. Just about every houndsman I know has had to wade into a partly frozen swamp at least once to rescue his dog. And none of them hesitate to do what needs to be done.